I learned from Jean Slatter (author of Hiring the Heavens) how easy it is to request angelic assistance for even the most mundane tasks. Since then I always "hire" Travel Angels to smooth the way from home to airport to baggage claim to train, bus, or taxi and then on to wherever I'm going. It works! It's amazing how many miraculous coincidences occur that can be attributed only to the work of the travel angels. Yesterday was no exception. Confused about time zones, I was an hour late checking in for my Southwest Airlines flight. This put me at the tail end of the B group for boarding, assuring that only middle seats would still be available. The angels were on duty because the one open middle seat near the front of the plane was between two very lovely ladies. With big smiles and offers to help me with my carryon luggage, they welcomed me to my place. Being in the middle didn't interrupt the stories they shared with winks and lots of laughter. Can you guess what the stories were about? That's right. Angels. As we exchanged email and phone numbers in hopes our paths might cross again, we each confessed that we didn't usually share our belief so unabashedly or speak so openly on such short acquaintance. Another miraculous coincidence since we all three admitted how relaxing it is to tell the truth. Especially to the angels among us everywhere.

﻿Caring too much that things should be perfect can really stop me in my tracks. Even simple goals will seem impossible to achieve if I think too long and too hard about whether the outcome will be perfect. While packing my suitcases, preparing to be away from home and the usual routine of my life for a week, I am aware of this tendency to want everything to be perfect, to be ready for any eventuality, to be prepared... . This makes me think that I'm putting undue pressure on myself. I don't really want to know every little detail about everything that may or may not happen. I like surprises. Especially happy ones. So I've decided to let there be cracks in my carefully orchestrated plans so that even more light can get in. Thanks for the reminder, Leonard.﻿

"Ring the bells that still can ring. Forget your perfect offering. There is a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in."- Leonard Cohen

I like to read positive words every day and do so from a variety of sources. Here's a quote from Oglala Sioux Chief Crazy Horse in the Science of Mind magazine today: "I salute the Light within your eyes where the whole Universe dwells. For when you are at the center within you, and I am in that place within me, we shall be One." There are so many ways to seek the light and honor it in ourselves as well as in others. It's a choice I get to make every day. And from Calvin and Hobbes we are reminded that hugs help us feel the light within.

You've probably heard that dark chocolate is loaded with nutrients that can positively affect your health. Made from the seed of the cocoa tree, it's one of the best sources of antioxidants, provides soluble fiber, and is loaded with minerals. Studies show that dark chocolate can even lower the risk of heart disease. This is interesting since most of us eat a lot of chocolate on Valentine's Day and the symbol for Valentine's Day is a heart. According to one source, a 100 gram bar of dark chocolate with 70-85% cocoa contains: 67% of the RDA for Iron; 58% of the RDA for Magnesium;89% of the RDA for Copper; 98% of the RDA for Manganese; as well as plenty of potassium, phosphorus, zinc and selenium.

So what if you've eaten a bit more, or a whole lot more than 100 grams of chocolate? Try one of these tips to counteract an overdose of sweet: eat a few salty olives, some sauerkraut, an Umeboshi plum or a half-teaspoon of Umeboshi plum paste, miso soup, or add soy sauce to a cup of ginger tea. Salty counteracts sweet. Stay tuned for some tips in case of an overdose of salt!

A glimpse of the sky from where I live in New Mexico, which is partly why we moved to the Southwest... to see blue sky more often, especially in winter.

Just like choosing to consider a glass half empty or half full, choosing to consider it a good day whether the sun is shining (visibly) or not, or whether the sky is blue (or not) is up to each one of us. As AMAG so often reminds us, there are three steps to maintaining integrity: 1. Decide to Choose (or Choose to Decide)2. Choose (or Decide)3. Act on your choice (or decision)

Easy to say; a bit more challenging to do. Even if there are clouds covering the sky and blocking the sun, trust that above the clouds the sky is bright blue and the sun is always shining. Even at night!